Kerf cutting device



Nov. 19, 1946. SMMONS 2,411,171

KERF CUTTING DEVIC E Original Filed April 20, 1943 Z Hive afar:

Patented Nov. 19, 1946 KERF CUTTING DEVICE Leon E, Simmons, Claremont, N. H., as'signor to Joy Manufacturing Company,a'corporation of Pennsylvania Original application April 20, 1943, Serial No.

483,748, Divided and this application November 4, 1943, Serial No. 508,941

14-Claims. p I This invention relates to kerf cutting devices andmore particularly toan improved chainblock, strap link and hinge pin structure for a cutter chain of a coal cutting machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improvedkerf cutting device. Another object is toprovide an improved cutter chain for a coal cutting machine. A further object is to provide an improved chain block and strap link structure for a cutter chain. A still further object is to pro- Vide 'an improved strap link and hinge pin locking means. 'Still another object is toprovide an improved liinge pin structure .for a cutter chain,

having improved meansfor locking the hinge pins against rotation with'respect to the chain blocks. FA'nother object is to provide an improved interlocking connection between the strap links and chain block. These and other objects andadvantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 483,748, filed April 20, 1943.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of acutter chain constructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a portion of the improved hinge pin structure being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking toward the frontend of the chain block and showing a portionof the cutter bar.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the key held in pin-locking position by the strap links.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating a'portion of the strap link and hinge pinlock.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the strap links in a position to permit release-of the locking key.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view ofone of the hinge pins.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention there is shown a-cutterchain comprising a chain block or link I connected by hinge pins 2 to connecting or strap links 3. The strap links have lateral gibs 4 received in "the guideways -Sofa cutterbar 6, as shown in Fig. 2. Thechain block ms-man ledges l at its opposite sides- 2 which overlie the outer sides of the strap links 3, in the manner shown in Fig. 2, to hold the strap links against lateral release in a manner to be later explained. The hinge pins 2 extend between the inner surfaces of guide strips 8 suitably fixed to the outer plates '9 of the cutter bar. In this illustrative construction, the hinge pins are locked against rotation relative to the chain block by locking keys ll! seated in longitudinal key slots or keyways H 'and I2 formed respectively in the pins and block. The keyways l l extend along the exterior of the hinge pins for the entire length of the pins, as clearlyshown in Fig. 6. The locking keys I0 arearranged between and at their ends abut the inner'surfaees' at P3 of the strap links 3 during the normal running position of the cutter chain. When the strap links 3 are turned through substantially 90, intothe position shown in Fig. 4, slots [4 in the links, which are normally out of registry with the key slots l2 in the block I, are brought intoregistry with the key slots 12 so that the keys ll] may be driven out in an endwise direction, thereby to enable removal of the hinge pins 2. When the hinge pins are removed, the strap links 3 may be readily moved out of their interlocking relation with the ledges 1 on the chain block I. or course, the cutter chain must be moved out of the guideways of the cuttenbar before removal of the pins and their keys. The chain blocks l have lateral lugs I5 which carry cutter bits l6, and the cutter bits are held in cutting position on the chain blocks by holders [1 held in position by set screws 18, in the manner fully described in my copending application, Serial No. 483,478 above referred to.

As a result of this invention an improved cutte chain is provided having an improved chain block and strap link structure. The novel strap link and hinge pin lock provides an effective means for holding the hinge pins against rotation relative to the blocks, thereby concentrating wear on the relatively inexpensive stra links. Also the strap links are eiiectually interlocked with the chain blocks. It will also be noted that by the provision of the improved hinge pin con- 1 struction embodying a relatively simple key and described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention maybe modified 3 and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cutter chain, a chain block, a pair of strap links arranged at the sides of said block, said block and strap links having alined openings,

a hingepin arranged in said alined openings for pivotally connecting said strap links to the block, a key seated in longitudinal key slots in said pin and block for locking said hinge pin against rotation with respect to said block, said key arranged between the inner surfaces/of said strap links.

2. In a cutter chain, a chain block, a pair of strap links arranged at the sides of said block, said block and strap links having alined openings, a hinge pin arranged in said alined openings for pivotally connecting said strap links to the block, a key seated in longitudinal key slots in said pin and block for locking said hinge pin against rotation with respect to said block, said key arranged between the inner surfaces of said strap links, and said strap links having slots extending therethrough which are normally out of registry with said key slots, and said strap links being swingable on the hinge pin into a position to bring said slots into registry with said key slots to permit endwise removal of the key.

3. In a cutter chain, a chain block, a pair of strap links arranged at the sides of said block, said block and strap links having alined openings, a hinge pin arranged in said alined openings for pivotally connecting said strap links to the block, a key seated in longitudinal key slots in said pin and block for locking said hinge pin against rotation with respect to said block, said key arranged between the inner surfaces of "said strap links, and ledges on said block overlying the outer sides of said strap links to hold said links against lateral displacement from the block.

4. In a cutter chain, a chain block, a pair of strap links arranged at the sides of said block,

said block and strap links having alined openings, a hinge pin arranged in said alined openings for pivotally connecting said strap links to the block, a key seated in longitudinal key slots in said pin and block for locking said hinge pin against rotation with respect to said blocks, said key arranged between the inner surfaces of said strap links, said strap links having slots extending therethrough which are normally out of registry with said key slots, said strap links being swingable on the hinge pin into a position to bring said slots into registry with said key slots to permit endwise removal of the key, and ledges on said block overlying the outer sides of said strap links to hold said links against lateral displacement from the block, said links upon removal of said hinge pin being releasable from said block ledges.

5. In a cutter chain, a chain block, connecting 'links at the sides of said block, releasable hinge elements for pivotally connecting said block and links, said block having ledgelike portions projecting from the sides thereof and engaging the outer side surfaces of said links for retaining the latter against lateral release from said hinge elements and said block in all positions of said links about their pivots, said links upon release of said hinge elements being movable bodily in a direction at right angles to the axes of said hinge elements out of engagement with said ledgelike portions. s ,3

6. In a cutter chain, a chain block, strap links .at the sides of said block, said block and links 4 having registering bores, hinge pins received in said bores for pivotally connecting said links to said block, and keys for locking the pins against rotation with respect to said block, said keys arranged between the inner side surfaces of said links during normal running of the chain.

'7. In a cutter chain, a chain block, strap links at the sides of said block, said block and links having registering bores, hinge pins received in said bores for pivotally connecting said links to said block, and keys for locking the pins against rotation with respect to said block, said keys arranged between the inner side surfaces of said links during normal running of the chain, and said links being swingable relative to said block into positions to permit release of said keys from between said side strap link surfaces. 7 8. In a chain, a chain link, a pair of connecting chain elements arranged at the opposite sides of said chain link, a hinge element for pivotally connecting said link and chain elements, a looking member extending lengthwise of said hinge element and. having interlockin engagement with said hinge element and said chain link so that said hinge element is held against rotation relative to said chain link, said locking member being arranged and held in looking position between the inner surfaces of said chain elements'with its end surfaces in end abutting engagement with said inner surfaces.

9. In a chain, a chain link, a pair of connecting chain elements arranged at the opposite sides of said chain link, a hinge element forpivotally connecting said link and chain elements, a locking member extending lengthwise of said hinge element and having interlocking engagemntwith said hinge element and said chain linkjso that 'said hinge element is held against rotation relative to said chain link, said locking member being arranged and held in locking position'belink into a position to bring solely by such swinging movement the recess into alinement with said locking member to permit endwise removal of said locking member from said hinge element;

10. In a chain, a chain link, oonnecting'links at the sides of said chain link, hingefelements for pivotally connecting said links together, and ledgelike portions projecting from the sides of said chain link and engaging the outer side surfaces of said connecting links for retainingthe latter against lateral separation from said. chain link, said connecting links being movable bodily without pivoting out of engagement with said ledgelike portions upon removal of said hing elements from said links. a

11. In a chain, cooperating chain elements one of which is a connecting element, a hinge element for pivotally connecting said chain elements together, and a key interlocked with said hinge element and the other chain element for locking said hinge element against rotation with respect connecting chain element.

12. In a chain, cooperatin g chain element'sone of which is a connecting element, a hinge. element for pivotally connecting said chain; elements together, a key interlocked with saidhingeelement and the other chain element for lockinlgif said hinge element against rotation with respect to said other chain' element, said key being held against longitudinal displacement in one direction from its locking position by the inner surface of said connecting chain element, and said connecting chain element being recessed near its pivot With the recess normally out of alinement with said key, and said connecting chain element being swingable Without translatory movement on said hinge element relative to said other chain element into a position to bring solely by such swinging movement the recess into alinement with said key to permit endwise removal of the key.

13. In a chain, cooperating chain elements one of which is a connecting element, a hinge element for pivotally connecting said chain elements together, a key having interlocking engagement with said hinge element and the other chain element for locking said hinge element against rotation with respect to said other chain element, said key being held against longitudinal displacement in one direction from its locking position by the inner surface of said connecting chain element, and a ledgelike portion on said other chain element overlying the outer side of said connecting chain element to hold the latter against lateral displacement from said other 6 chain element, said connecting chain element being releasable from said ledgelike portion upon removal of said hinge element.

14. In a chain, cooperating chain elements one of which is a connecting chain element, a hinge element for pivotally connecting said elements together, a key having interlocking engagement with said hinge element and the other chain element for locking said hinge element against rotation with respect to said other chain element, said key being held against longitudinal displacement in one direction from its locking position by the inner surface of said connecting chain element, said connecting chain element having a recess near its pivot which is normally out of alinement with said key, and said connecting element being swingable on said hinge element relative to said other chain element into a position to bring the recess into alinement with said key to permit endwise removal of the key, and a ledgelike portion on said other chain element overlying the outer side of said connecting chain element to hold the latter against lateral displacement from said other chain element, said connecting chain element upon removal of said hinge element being releasable from said ledgelike portion.

LEON E. SIMMONS. 

